Following Polk County District Judge Elizabeth Coker's resignation in the wake of revelations that she'd texted advice to prosecutors during trials, the prosecutor in the watershed case, Kaycee Jones, who was since elected to a judgeship, also finds herself in hot water, AP reported Oct. 23. In a letter to the state bar's disciplinary counsel:
Jones acknowledged passing along the texts, designed to bolster the prosecution's case, to the lead prosecutor during a child abuse trial. "It was wrong and I knew better," she wrote.Added the Chronicle:
Jones' name was prominently mentioned three times in Coker's resignation agreement. The signed document refers to the so-called "texting and judging" incident as well as allegations of other improper communiques and meetings between Jones and Coker involving additional cases that were not specified.
Her then-boss, Polk County District Attorney Lee Hon, said he was only aware of one incident involving a child abuse case that ended with a not-guilty verdict. He said he chastised Jones for acting inappropriately, and she had promised that it would not happen again.
Hon said he has since cooperated with the commission and the bar association investigations.
Neither the judicial commission nor the bar's grievance committee will acknowledge or comment on pending investigations.MORE: From Simple Justice.
But Cecil Berg and Laura Prigmore, attorneys who have pending complaints against Jones, said they have been told by investigators the Jones investigation was shelved until Coker's was resolved but now it will move forward. Prigmore said a grievance committee hearing on Jones is slated for March 21.
Jones acknowledged passing along the texts, designed to bolster the prosecution's case, to the lead prosecutor during a child abuse trial. "It was wrong and I knew better," she wrote.Added the Chronicle:
Jones' name was prominently mentioned three times in Coker's resignation agreement. The signed document refers to the so-called "texting and judging" incident as well as allegations of other improper communiques and meetings between Jones and Coker involving additional cases that were not specified.
Her then-boss, Polk County District Attorney Lee Hon, said he was only aware of one incident involving a child abuse case that ended with a not-guilty verdict. He said he chastised Jones for acting inappropriately, and she had promised that it would not happen again.
Hon said he has since cooperated with the commission and the bar association investigations.
Neither the judicial commission nor the bar's grievance committee will acknowledge or comment on pending investigations.MORE: From Simple Justice.
But Cecil Berg and Laura Prigmore, attorneys who have pending complaints against Jones, said they have been told by investigators the Jones investigation was shelved until Coker's was resolved but now it will move forward. Prigmore said a grievance committee hearing on Jones is slated for March 21.
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